Each individual has unique life experiences and a personal story that is multi-layered. Throughout the life journey there are moments of struggle and change, both anticipated and unanticipated, which shape who we are and how we see ourselves, our relationships with others, and the world around us. The decision to seek therapy and explore these lived experiences with a therapist as your guide requires commitment and bravery. As your therapist, I provide a safe and supportive environment for you to deepen your understanding of these life experiences, strengthen your sense of self, and cultivate feelings of hope.

I primarily offer individual therapy to adults. My clinical experience thus far has provided me the opportunity to work with a diverse array of people with a wide variety of psychotherapy needs. I support individuals with concerns including (but not limited to) mood and anxiety, perfectionism, emotional dysregulation, processing of grief and loss, substance use, and relationship concerns involving distressing or traumatic life experiences. I welcome working with and learning from people representing  diverse identities and backgrounds across differences in gender, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, as well as other cultural and systemic considerations. My belief is that systemic and cultural factors are an integral component of lived experiences in everyday life and within the therapeutic context, as reflected by my M.A. degree in Social Psychology.

Presently, I am a Ph.D. student from York University completing my predoctoral internship through the University of Ottawa. At the Centre for Interpersonal Relationships (CFIR), I am completing my external internship rotation under the supervision of, Dr. Jean Kim, C.Psych.

My clinical research and experience reflects a special interest in the evaluation and treatment of social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. More recently, I have developed a special interest in the area of perinatal mental health. My work with clients often involves understanding, maintaining, and deepening their sense of self-compassion (i.e., turning compassion inward towards the self) by showing kindness and understanding towards oneself instead of self-criticism during difficult times.

With regards to my approach as a clinician, I strive to work together with  you to form an individualized treatment plan that can be flexibly adapted to meet your needs. I believe each client deserves a tailored treatment plan that takes into account their personal worldview, preferred learning style, and prior experience(s) with therapy. Our initial sessions will consist of exploring your reasons for seeking therapy, obtaining an overview of your life history, and narrowing in on your goals for treatment – with the understanding that you may feel the need to modify these as your time in therapy unfolds. An important first step will be conducting a comprehensive assessment to help gain an understanding of what may underlie your distress and to help provide a path forward for treatment goals., I will discuss with you my preliminary professional understanding of how your current difficulties may have emerged and consider which evidence-based intervention approaches are well suited to address these concerns. I primarily practice as an integrative therapist who draws from approaches (such as emotion-focused therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapies, and dialectical behaviour therapy), as there are many effective ways to manage and cope with challenging life experiences. Therapy will occur in a warm and non-judgmental atmosphere in which  we will collaboratively work together – the ultimate goal will be that you become  better equipped with the  knowledge and skills to “become your own therapist”.

Prior to undergoing my internship training at the University of Ottawa and CFIR, I received clinical assessment and intervention training in a variety  of settings. These include  training through the York University Psychology Clinic (YUPC), followed by a practicum in the inpatient OCD program through Sunnybrook Hospital. Through St. Joseph’s Hospital, I also completed a practicum in the Youth Wellness Centre providing support to emerging adults experiencing mental health and addictions concerns. I also completed part of my internship training through the Ottawa Centre for Resilience (OCFR), primarily focused on treating complex developmental trauma, disassociation, and post-traumatic stress.

In fall of 2022, under the supervision of Dr. Joel Goldberg, I defended my doctoral dissertation that focused on evaluating the severity and chronicity of loneliness among emerging adults, particularly during the height of the pandemic. I continue to stay actively involved by presenting at conferences and engaging in research that informs my clinical practice. As featured below, much of my peer-reviewed work focuses on self-compassion as it relates to self-stigma, social anxiety, and chronic loneliness. As well, my research focuses on other factors that bolster well-being and are protective in an interpersonal sense, such as feelings of mattering to others.

Goldberg, J. O., McKeag, S. A., Rose, A. L., Lumsden-Ruegg, H., & Flett, G. L. (2023). Too close for comfort: Stigma by association in family members who live with relatives with mental illness. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(6),    5209.

Flett, G. L., Nepon, T., Goldberg, J. O., Rose, A. L., Atkey, S. K., & Zaki-Azat, J. (2022). The Anti-Mattering Scale: Development, psychometric properties and associations with well-being and distress measures in adolescents and emerging adults. Journal of    Psychoeducational Assessment, 40(1), 37-59.

Rose, A. L., & Kocovski, N. L. (2021). The Social Self-Compassion Scale (SSCS): Development, validity, and associations with indices of well-being, distress, and social anxiety. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 19(6), 2091–2109. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00302-3

Flett, G. L., Nepon, T., Hewitt, P. L., & Rose, A. L. (2021). Why perfectionism is antithetical to mindfulness: A conceptual and empirical analysis and consideration of treatment implications. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 19(5), 1625–   1645. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00252-w

Rose, A. L., Atkey, S. K., Flett, G. L., & Goldberg, J. O.(2019). Self-stigma and domains of psychological well-being in high school youth: Associations with self-efficacy, self-esteem, and self-criticism. Psychology in the Schools, 56(8), 1344-1354.

Kocovski, N. L., Fleming, J. E., Blackie, R. A., MacKenzie, M. B. & Rose, A. L. (2019). Self-help for social anxiety: Randomized controlled trial comparing a mindfulness and acceptance-based approach with a control group. Behavior Therapy, 50(4), 696-709.

Rose, A. L., Atkey, S. K., Goldberg, J. O. (2018). Self-stigma in youth as a barrier to seeking help: Implications for prevention, intervention, and recovery. In: A. Leschied, D. H. Saklofske, & G. Flett (Eds.), The handbook of school-based mental health promotion: An evidence informed framework for implementation. New York, NY: Springer.